NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

You’ve learned ways to ensure you,your family and your pets are safe during a disaster , But what about  the structures you inhabit? is your home structurally sound and free of potential hazards?

Many of us fail to prepare our homes and businesses to be more resistant to disasters so they sustain as little damage as possible. along with preparing a disaster supplies kit and mapping out an evacuation plan, a critical part of disaster preparedness is to know which hazards are common in your location and inspect your property and address vulnerabilities to reduce potential property damage.

Prepare your property now for potential disasters:

• Inspect the roof. Have your roof inspected by a licensed, bonded roofing contractor to determine if there are any weaknesses and have them repaired.

• Trim trees. Cut weak branches that could easily be thrown against a structure or through a window during high winds. Remove branches that are positioned over a structure to help keep water out of the building.

• Seal cracks. Use a High-quality, waterproof caulk to seal gaps where pipes and electrical wires enter the structure to help keep water out of the building. 

• Pick up yard debris. Do you have lawn furniture or lightweight yard structures near your home or business? If so these items could easily become flying debris during high winds, and could cause substantial damage to your property or somebody else’s. 

• Create defensible space. If you are located in a wildfire-prone area, create a buffer zone around your home or business by removing weeds, brush and any combustible materials close to your building. This helps keep wildfire from getting too close, and reduces the threat from flying embers.

Visit DisasterSafety.org for more information about how to make your buildings more resistant to a variety of disasters,big and small.